These repatriations are a result of ten separate migrant interdictions at sea in the South Florida Straits. In each instance, the Coast Guard helped secure the US border and prevented these sea voyages from ending in tragedy.

“We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach US soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success,” said Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard 7th District. “Navigating the Florida Straits can be extremely dangerous for the unprepared on illegal voyages and often leads to injury or death."

Since October 1, at least 5,485 Cubans attempted to migrate to the US via the maritime environment compared to 4,473 in fiscal year 2015. These statistics represent the total number of at-sea interdictions, landings and disruptions in the Florida Straits, the Caribbean and Atlantic.